I discovered
the work of Kunal Basu through the pages of ReadFirst.com (now defunct), who
published the first chapter of Basu's debut novel, “The Opium
Clerk” (2001) online. Kunal Basu is also the author of “The
Miniaturist” (2003), and “Racists”
(2006).
Kunal Basu
– a comprehensive biography of the author that also features a photo of him
Most
of this page concerns the cultural context of The
Opium Clerk as derived from that first chapter. I was initially
attracted to the title of this book, since I regard the Opium Wars to be by far
the worst act of the British Empire. The first chapter tells the story of
Hiran's beginnings, and with a little bit of palm reading, there are hints of
the future. Given the subject matter, I think The Opium Clerk is well
worth a read. Here's the synopsis of the novel:
"Kunal
Basu's panoramic first novel follows the vagaries of Hiran's life, and the flow
of the opium trade, from Calcutta to Canton. Disguised as a missionary, he survives
cholera, piracy and war in China, arriving back in India to find his homeland
on the verge of another rebellion. And he finds himself suddenly father to a
half-caste son, the child abandoned by the Englishman and his wife when they
fled back in disgrace to Britain. As Hiran dedicates himself to the education
of his new son, the cycle of regeneration continues. Douglas, now an adult,
neither black nor white, flees India himself for the Orient, again carried
along on the flood of opium, this time to Borneo, to Sarawak: the land of the
White Rajahs."
Chinese Astrology: palmistry -
this site will give you an indication of what's going on when Hiran's palm is
read
Star Teller - palmistry
and health
Spirituality: Palm
Reading - The Minor Lines - includes the line of intuition
Marks - an
explanation of La Croix Mystique
Minor Lines of the Hand -
include the Ring of Solomon
South Asian
History: The Revolutionary Upheaval of 1857 - mentions Patna
They Died for Hindustan -
covers the rebellion of Patna in more depth, and the execution of a bookseller
who targeted the Opium trade
A Short History
of the Opium wars
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